Hand held wand for transferring data from one device to another

Abstract

A hand held wand utilizes an elongated rigid hollow longitudinally extending stainless steel tube open at both ends. A data collection probe is disposed in one tube end. A data uploading port is disposed in the other tube end. The probe and port each include a stainless steel body electrically and mechanically engaging the tube. Each body has a front surface disposed outside of the tube with a peripheral annular ring and a central recess extending inwardly and terminating in a rear surface having a first opening. Each body also includes a corresponding longitudinally extending central electrode disposed in the corresponding recess. Each central electrode has an exposed front surface flush with the ring and a rear surface aligned with and spaced from the opening. Electrical insulation is disposed in the recess to electrically isolate the electrode from the body and the tube. The two bodies and the tube define a common external electrical ground with respect to the central electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand held wand comprising: an elongated rigid hollow electrically conductive longitudinally extending metal tube open at both ends;   a data collection probe disposed in one tube end;   a data uploading port disposed in the other tube end;   said probe and port each including an electrically conductive metal body of like metal to the tube and having one end electrically and mechanically engaging the corresponding tube end in which the corresponding one of the port and probe is disposed, each body having a front surface disposed outside of the tube with a peripheral annular ring and a central recess extending inwardly from the front surface and terminating in a rear surface having a first opening, each body further including a corresponding longitudinally extending central electrode disposed in the corresponding recess, each central electrode having an exposed front surface adjacent the ring and a rear surface aligned with and spaced from the opening, and electrical insulation disposed in the recess to electrically isolate the electrode from the body and the tube, the two bodies and the tube defining a common external electrical ground with respect to the central electrodes.   
     
     
       2. A hand held wand comprising: an elongated rigid hollow electrically conductive longitudinally extending stainless steel tube open at both ends;   a data collection probe disposed in one tube end;   a data uploading port disposed in the other tube end;   said probe and port each including an electrically conductive stainless steel body having one end electrically and mechanically engaging the corresponding tube end in which the corresponding end of one of the port and probe is disposed, each body having a front surface disposed outside of the tube with a peripheral annular ring and a central recess extending inwardly from the front surface and terminating in a rear surface having a first opening, each body further including a corresponding longitudinally extending central electrode disposed in the corresponding recess, each central electrode having an exposed front surface adjacent the ring and a rear surface aligned with and spaced from the opening, and electrical insulation disposed in the recess to electrically isolate the electrode from the body and the tube, one of the bodies having a second opening in the rear surface spaced from the first opening, the two bodies and the tube defining a common external electrical ground with respect to the central electrodes.   
     
     
       3. The wand of claim 2 further including an electrically conductive member in the second opening and connected to the common ground. 
     
     
       4. The wand of claim 3 wherein the second opening has a circular cross section, said wand further including an electrically conductive member having a non-circular cross section somewhat larger in area than the cross sectional area of the second opening, said member being pressure fitted into the second opening and extending into the interior of the tube. 
     
     
       5. The wand of claim 4 wherein the outer diameter of the port is approximately equal to the diameter of the recess in the probe. 
     
     
       6. The wand of claim 5 wherein disposed inside the tube are: a non-volatile SRAM microcontroller connected via a KickStarter chip to the central electrode of the probe and connected via an EconoRam chip powered by an internally disposed lithium energy source to the central electrode of the port, said microcontroller and said chips having ground electrodes connected in common to said electrically conductive member the central electrodes of probe and port each being connected via a lead insulatedly separated from the corresponding body to the corresponding chip.